Category Archives: Uncategorized

 The opposition caucuses in the UFT are gearing up for theelection, and seemingly forgetting what election will determine the future ofthe union, The November election is a generational election, the very existenceof public education is at stake, the union leadership election in the springpales in comparison. The strategy of the opposition caucuses seem to beContinue reading “Is “Preparing to Strike” Assisted Suicide?”

An opposition caucus in the UFT vigorously favors the proposed NYS Health Bill, also called Medicare for All, the bill, the first in the nation would enroll all New Yorkers in a NYS Medicare-like program.  The bill, originally introduced in 1992  has been reintroduced with changes many times over the years, Dick Gottfried, who chairedContinue reading “Should Unions Be Wary of the Proposed NYS Health Law?”

Biden appears to be “ considering” giving up his run for a second term. How do the Democrats transition to selecting a Biden successor?  The Democratic National Convention (DNC)  begins August 19th in Chicago, you can’t wait a month Biden could resign the presidency, Harris is sworn in and runs as an incumbent president. QuickContinue reading “Restoring Sanity: The Democratic Pathway to the White House”

“I don’t belong to an organized political party … I’m a democrat.”  Will Rogers The Democratic Party is in disarray with the Democratic Convention only a month away, donors and electeds are urging Biden to withdraw his candidacy while others wholeheartedly support the President.  The polls favor Trump and the gap appears to be widening. WhileContinue reading “Are We Prepared? How Will Teacher Unions Respond to a Trump Presidency and a Republican Congress?”

Buying a new tennis racket does not make you into a better player, nor new golf clubs into a better golfer. Malcolm Gladwell proffers it takes at least 10,000 hours of practice to reach expertise, Algebra 1 teachers will, maybe, receive two days in September. I asked a math guru about the new Algebra 1Continue reading “Teaching is an Art (not a Science), Teamwork and Guided Practice are the Keys”

Health Care is a product, akin to visiting a supermarket, an automobile dealer or a doctor’s office, you purchase a product and the seller charges and the marketplace determines the price. Grocery stores are replaced by supermarkets and online purchasing and the choice of products shrinks, and, prices increase.  Hospitals and all medical providers are capitalists,Continue reading “The Fight to Provide High Quality and Affordable Health Care for Union Members”

The 23-24 school year is the last year of the Biden COVID dollars, the dollars paid for addtional counselors and social workers as well as not cutting school budgets to reflect losses in enrollment and 3K and preK expansion. As the year began Mayor Adams announced substantial PEG budget cuts, an acronym , the Program to Eliminate the Gap, cutsContinue reading “Looking Back Looking Forward: Retro and Prospective Glances at Education in New York City”

“The soft bigotry of low expectations” In the fall of 2019 I participated in a regional meeting: Graduation Measures, a top to bottom review of everything high school. I sat at a table with a superintendent, a principal, a teacher and a few parents. The guiding question: what will students know upon high school graduation?Continue reading “A Critical First Look at the Graduation Measures Recommendations”

Before a legislative session an announcement is made calling members to “conference,” the party caucus, members only, meetings with legislative leaders to discuss issues in private, the leaders get “the temperature” of members before an open session, on the floor members vote as blocs, it is highly unusual to vote against an item allowed to comeContinue reading “A Key Skill: Navigating the Winding Hallways of City Hall, The Council Chamber and Albany”

 In the Fall of 2019 I attended a regional meeting of a new initiative, an in depth dive into everything high school called Graduation Measures; I sat at a table with a high school superintendent, a teacher and  few parents, we mused over whether this was the beginning of the end of Regents Examination.  AContinue reading “Will Graduation Measures Face the Same Fate As the Common Core?”